2019 Europe Trip - Part 2 - Holland

After picking up the car, we drove down to Amsterdam (about a 9 hour drive, but with kids it took about 10-11).  We stayed overnight in Copenhagen, otherwise it would have been a 12 hour drive!  We had a "Stay Bryggen" apartment hotel - complete with three bedrooms - we were spoiled!

Eating our pastries and cereal for breakfast

We had rented a house in the countryside about 20 minutes outside of Amsterdam.  It was a historical building - it was originally the stable to the big manor house just next door, but has been converted into a home that will have one side that is their primary home where they live, and then a side where they will rent out.  They are doing construction on the rental side now, so we didn't get to see that finished product yet.  

The owners had this fun little buggy that the kids were riding around

The first day, we headed over to the Zaanse Schans windmill area where we toured the chalk windmill, the museum (where they had a chocolate factory), the wooden shoe shop, and a very quaint little clock museum.

There are approximately 7 windmills in this area, and all still working!  

It was a very windy day, so it was keeping the windmills cranking!

Kelli and Amy with the wind mills behind us

Zachary way up on the watch tower

The chocolate factory game even sucked Karis into it!

We got all of the kids together to capture a picture - the wind was whipping Addison's hair across her face

Notice we are now in pants and jackets!

Never too old to climb a tree!

Or to slide down a slide!

After finishing at the windmills, we then went over to a little town Edam - sadly, this is a town known for its cheese markets but they are on Thursdays and we were there Sunday.  But, it is extremely quaint and charming!  We tried to eat at a pizza restaurant, but they said they were completely full and could not take walk-ins.....it was a bit odd but we aren't from Edam, so maybe that is how restaurants work over there.  So we traipsed through town looking for something - we had the Rick Steve's tour guide book, so we ended up going to a pub that he recommended.  Amy was a bit trepidatious about taking the kids into a "bar" but there was no smoking and it was tiny - there were a few older friends chatting around the bar, and then one older married couple eating supper so we ventured in.  It ended up being a very quiet place with good food!  Thanks to Rick Steve!

The kids played and colored while we waited for the food

The road is barely wide enough for one car!  

And virtually no sidewalk!

Charming little spots throughout

Imagine opening your door and immediately you are on the street!

Amy does love cheese

This is the cheese market area - would loved to have seen the true people with their traditional garb on

We were totally charmed

Found this down an alleyway as we made our way back to the cars

The second day that we were in Holland, we spent exploring Amsterdam.  We started off at Van Gogh museum, which was quite fun with a kids' treasure hunt and then we went to a dutch pancake place that had an old wooden carousel there.  It was super good food and a great waiter!  He shared some fun things to do in Amsterdam - so we wandered over to the palace and fed pigeons in the square (one of the kids' favorite memories) and then went on a canal tour, and then to the I amsterdam sign.  We completed the day with these unique french fries (any manner of toppings) and then to the Anne Frank house.  The Anne Frank house was a very moving experience to see, and this day ended up being one of Zachary's favorites as he loved the pigeons, the i Amsterdam (as he was able to climb all over the huge letters) and the Anne Frank house.

Van Gogh himself - we learned lots of interesting things about his life!

Quaint buildings all around

Climbing the statue

Huge french fries - take it from us - get a small if you ever go!  We couldn't finish them!

While we were there, Addison was following the group off of the public tram and the gate swung back suddenly, and unfortunately Amy was behind her but her reflexes weren't fast enough and it smacked her right in the face - leaving her with a black eye for the rest of the trip.  Poor kid - she cried for a while but she got it together and had a fun time the rest of the trip.

Taking selfies in order to check out her black eye

De Carrousel was the name of the restaurant that we went to, and it was a fitting name! :)  They had all manner of pancakes and crepes - it was a meal that everyone was delighted by!  The carousel didn't rotate, but it was fun for the kids to get on and play while they waited for the food (which was super fast!)

Holland of course is famous for its tulips, although we missed the annual tulip festival by 2 weeks.  BUMMER.  We will definitely want to do that again some day!  But we walked through a flower market and saw these beautiful flowers, so we stopped to take a picture.

Addison isn't a great walker, so she conned her big brothers into carrying her quite a few times

And who wants to be left out, so E was quick to ask for a ride as well! :)

In front of the Dutch royal palace

In the same square, there was an upside down sun dial clock - you have to make the picture bigger, but the numbers are all on the bottom side of the clock clustered together.  That was super neat!

While we were there, Kent had some cheerios that he graciously shared with all of the kids, and the pigeon feeding time began!  They had a great time with the pigeons flying all around them, landing on their arms/hands!  It became one of the kids favorite things in Amsterdam - go figure! :)

On the way to the i amsterdam sign, we came across this little car.  It is like a smart car, but even smaller.....and only for ONE person.  Look at this, it is just crazy!

The i Amsterdam sign was the second favorite during the day - the kids had a blast climbing all over the huge letters.  Amy was a little fearful they would fall off, but thankfully they did not and no harm came to them!

the whole group - trying futilely to get a selfie with the sign behind us - we got the whole group, but the sign is hard to see!

It is a little hard to see, but this is a double decker "parking deck" for bicycles!  Bikes everywhere!!!

On our way to the Anne Frank house - with five of us, it is hard to get a selfie where you can actually see the whole canal!